Garmin S62 vs S50: the smarter golf watch for your game

Display

Product B wins here. The Approach S50 uses an AMOLED display, which is brighter, sharper and easier to read at a glance in most lighting conditions, especially when you want crisp yardages and a more premium smartwatch look. The S62’s full-colour screen is still very usable and golf-friendly, but it looks older next to the S50 and does not deliver the same visual punch. If you care about quick readability and modern screen quality, the S50 is the better display.

Performance

Product A wins for golf-specific performance. The Approach S62 is Garmin’s more established premium golf watch and its Virtual Caddie is a major advantage if you want on-course decision support, not just distances. It gives more of a golfer’s toolset, which matters when you’re trying to choose the right club under pressure rather than simply checking yardages. The S50 is strong for core on-course features, but the S62 is the more complete golf performance device.

Build quality and design

This is close, but Product B edges it for everyday wear, while Product A wins for pure golf practicality. The S50’s slate aluminium bezel and ComfortFit nylon band give it a more modern smartwatch aesthetic and should feel lighter and more refined off the course. The S62 is chunkier and more obviously purpose-built for golf, which some players prefer because it feels like a serious instrument rather than a fashion-led wearable. If you want the watch to transition cleanly from fairway to office, the S50 is the nicer design; if you want a dedicated golf tool, the S62 feels more substantial.

Battery life

Product A is the safer pick. Garmin’s premium golf watches traditionally prioritise endurance, and the S62 is the model here that golfers have long trusted for full rounds and repeat use without battery anxiety. The S50’s AMOLED screen typically means more visual appeal but can also be more demanding on power, so if you play long days, travel for golf, or hate charging another device, the S62 is the more reassuring option. Battery life matters more than people think when you’re relying on GPS, course mapping and shot guidance all day.

Price and value for money

Product B wins narrowly on value. At £321.42, it is £3.57 cheaper than the S62, which is a tiny difference, but the S50 gives you the newer AMOLED display and wrist-based heart rate in a more contemporary package. That said, the S62’s huge review count matters: 2540 reviews versus 501 suggests a far larger base of proven real-world use, and that often translates to confidence in a purchase. If you judge value by features per pound, the S50 slightly edges it; if you judge value by proven golf pedigree, the S62 is arguably stronger.

Game library/features

Product A wins decisively. The S62 is the better choice for golfers who want the most useful on-course data and strategy help. Its built-in Virtual Caddie is the standout feature here, because it turns the watch from a yardage device into a decision-making aid. That matters for golfers trying to improve course management, club selection and consistency. The S50 has advanced golf GPS smartwatch features and wrist-based heart rate, but those health and lifestyle additions do not help your scoring as much as the S62’s deeper golf-first functionality. For a golfer focused on lowering scores, the S62 is the more powerful tool.

Overall user experience

Product B wins for people who want the best all-round smartwatch experience, while Product A wins for golfers who want the best golf experience. The S50 feels more modern, more wearable and more lifestyle-friendly thanks to the AMOLED screen and heart-rate tracking. The S62 feels more like a serious golf companion: simpler, more established and more directly aimed at helping you play better on the course. If you want a watch that does golf well and also looks and feels like a premium smartwatch, the S50 is attractive. If your priority is scoring, strategy and confidence over style, the S62 is the better fit.

Overall summary: the Garmin Approach S50 is the better modern smartwatch, but the Garmin Approach S62 is the better golf watch. Because the S62 offers the more useful golf-specific feature set, especially Virtual Caddie and proven course-focused performance, it is the stronger choice for most golfers who want genuine help lowering scores. The S50 is the better pick only if you care more about the AMOLED display, lighter everyday wear and wrist-based heart rate than about deeper golf strategy tools.